Working patterns are changing in the UK and many other countries around the world. The traditional 9-5 office-based setups that have characterised employment for many decades are gradually becoming less popular.
Increasingly, firms and individuals are switching onto the benefits associated with more flexible arrangements. In some cases this means that employees are being permitted to choose their own hours, or to operate from their homes or their garden offices.
Indeed, research conducted by 2e2 found that almost two-thirds of office staff feel restrained by their working hours and would like greater flexibility. Also, 55 per cent admitted to being more productive when they work from home as opposed to the office.
Meanwhile, 73 per cent stated that technology was no longer a barrier to working from home. These days, many homes, garden studios and so on are fitted out with devices that enable people to communicate effectively with their colleagues and to get on with their roles without hindrance.
For example, it is common for garden offices to be equipped with phones, computers and internet connections.
Commenting on the issue of home working, 2e2 director Mike Hockey said: “Employers often don’t realise the impact of working culture on productivity. Different people have different working patterns and the traditional 9 to 5 way of working doesn’t suit everyone.”
He went on to state: “It’s clear that often employees would be more productive if they had flexible hours or could work from home. However, an organisation’s culture can often mean that this isn’t possible or, if people do work in this way, they are seen as slackers.”
According to the expert, bosses need to change this and make it clear that operating from home is not a perk and that it is enhancing productivity and effectiveness they care about, not the number of hours that people sit behind their desks.